Teamwork Trust and Brightkidz

2 minute read:

To mark World Down Syndrome Day, we’d like to introduce you to some of our friends at Teamwork Trust Charity. Recently, Brightkidz Director Alison and new recruit Fiona popped in to visit.

Teamwork Trust supports adults who have mental health needs, physical and learning disabilities, such as Down Syndrome. With Teamwork, individuals can access education, employment experience and make friends, as well as regaining self-confidence.

These are values in tune with those at Brightkidz, which is why we support them by giving the members valuable work experience, threading the fixings for some of the reflectors. Alison explains the link between Brightkidz and Teamwork: “Lots of our jobs require the packing or assembly of items and to be able to outsource that work to a fellow social enterprise like Teamwork Trust is very important to us. When we visit it’s not like we are simply handing over a job – we are contributing towards improving the well-being and skill set of vulnerable adults who are genuinely interested in what we do. It is fantastic to see the great sense of pride they get from packing or assembling our items – it really is what a social enterprise is all about.”

Workplace Opportunities

Alison and Fiona had great fun meeting some of the brilliant people involved at Teamwork, getting involved in making some of the reflectors and chatting about the benefits the members get in doing accessible, supported work in a safe environment.

Once the work had been done, we talked to Caroline and Hannah about how Teamwork and Brightkidz can work together in the future on other projects. Caroline Prior, Education and Communications Officer, was keen to deepen the links between the two enterprises and plans are underway for a group from Teamwork to walk to visit the Brightkidz offices in Kettering town centre. As Alison explained, “There is huge potential for us to develop projects together; for the wider community, through the newly formed Kettering Town Centre Partnership where I am afoundingmember, or for Brightkidz to work with Teamwork members on schemes to promote independent travel, travel plans or sessions on how to cross the road safely.”

‘Teamwork’ Building

Hannah Ward, the Centre Manager for Kettering, is also keen to start a walking group to encourage the Teamwork members to get active and encourage independence; something definitely in line with the philosophy of Brightkidz.We are all very excited to see the connection between Brightkidz and Teamwork grow; just one example of how social enterprises can work together for the benefit of the whole community.

brightkidzfiona

Fiona is a teacher, sports coach and social enterprise director with over 18 years' experience of working with children and young people in a range of settings. Her passion is to get people moving more as well as engaging communities in caring for their natural spaces. She works with Brightkidz to create resources and sessions to support schools and young people in being more aware of their active travel choices and to engage them in making decisions to help them and their communities be happier, healthier and less polluted.

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